Combination letter sheet and integral envelope



Jan. 11, 1966 J. H. HAYES, JR 3,228,586

COMBINATION LETTER SHEET AND INTEGRAL ENVELOPE Filed Oct. 14, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet l I NVENTOR 3'. H. HAYES,TR- fl l zswft fummb ATTORNEYS Jan. 11, 1966 J. H. HAYES, JR 3,223,586

COMBINATION LETTER SHEET AND INTEGRAL ENVELOPE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 14, 1964 INVENTOR wnasm $wugu&.z%mmma ATTORNEYS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 J. H. HAYES, JR

COMBINATION LETTER SHEET AND INTEGRAL ENVELOPE Filed Oct. 14, 1964 Q o l? m C n Jan. 11, 1966 INVENTOR I. HJ-lAvEs, TR.

ATTORNEYS Jan. 11, 1966 COMBINATION LETTER SHEET AND INTEGRAL ENVELOPE Filed Oct. 14, 1964 J. H. HAYES, JR

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR OOOOOO J. H. HAYESSR. M,$wmu-% zgwmumb ATTORNEYS BY was United States Patent 3,228,586 COMBINATION LETTER SHEET AND INTEGRAL ENVELOPE John H. Hayes, Jr., 314 Lee 51%., Bristol, Va. Filed Oct. 14, 1964, Ser. No. 403,854 7 Claims. (Cl. 22973) This invention relates to letter sheets of the general type which can be folded and sealed and mailed without a covering envelope, and particularly to letter sheets in which there is provided an integral return envelope which can be folded, sealed and returned to the sender or any other desired destination.

In the present invention, a letter sheet is disclosed which can be folded to conceal the written message, and which permits typing the name and address of the person to whom the letter is to be sent and the message with but a single insertion of the sheet in a typewriter. This will eliminate the need for separate addressing of an envelope and insertion of the sheet in an envelope. It also eliminates the requirement of reversing the sheet to place the address on the opposite side, as is required with conventional sheets which fold up to form a sealed article for mailing. Further, the present invention discloses a letter sheet in which there is provided an integral envelope for the recipient to use in return mail.

The present invention has for its principal object the provision of an improved letter sheet which can be folded and sealed, with provision for adhesive between the outside panels of the folded form without need for separate attachment of the outside panels to the intermediate panels, and a sheet in which a return envelope is integral therewith.

A more specific object is to provide an improved letter sheet which has portions of an intermediate panel cut out to permit adhesive contact of the end panels through the cutouts when the sheet is folded.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a letter sheet having a plurality of panels in which certain panels form the message portion desired by the sender and certain other panels form an integral envelope for return mail use by the recipient.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a letter sheet having an integral return mail envelope that may easily be detached from the letter, sealed and returned to the sender.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description of practical embodiments thereof, when taken in conjunction with the drawings which accompany, and form part of, this specification.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a rear elevational view of the letter sheet and integral envelope of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a rear perspective view of the letter sheet and integral envelope partially folded for mailing showing the envelope in substantially operative position;

FIGURE 3 is a rear perspective view of the letter sheet and integral envelope in nearly completed folded form preparatory to mailing;

FIGURE 4 is a front perspective view of the letter sheet and integral envelope folded and sealed for mailing;

FIGURE 5 is a broken horizontal section taken on lines 5-5 of FIGURE 4;

. FIGURE 6 is a vertical section taken on lines 6-6 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a front perspective view of the letter sheet and integral envelope shown after the recipient has opened the letter;

FIGURE 8 is a front perspective view showing the integral envelope being folded for return;

FIGURE 9 is a front perspective view partially in ice broken section showing the integral envelope folded and sealed for mailing;

FIGURE 10 is a horizontal section view taken along lines 10-10 of FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 is a vertical section view taken along lines 11-11 of FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 12 is a rear elevational view of a modified form of the invention;

FIGURE 13 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention; and

FIGURE 14 is a plan view of the modification shown in FIGURE 13.

Referring to the drawings at detail, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures, and particularly to FIGURE 1 there is shown a composite letter sheet 20 that is divided by a perforated line 21 into a message sheet 22 and an integral reply envelope 23.

Message sheet 22 has a score line 24 defining panels 25 and 26. The message sheet 22 is adapted to be folded to form the panels 25, 26 about score line 24 which is generally pre-scored to ensure proper folding and true registry of the panels in overlying relation when the sheet is folded.

The reply envelope 23 is divided by score lines 27 and 28 into panels 29, 30 and 31. At the top of panel 29 on its reverse side is an adhesive strip 32 across the entire width of the panel for a purpose to be later described. Panel 30, being of the same width as panel 29,.has adhesive strips 33 extending vertically the entire length of the panel along its outermost edges. Bottom panel 31 of the reply envelope 23 is the full width of the letter sheet 20 and further has projecting portions which form the reply envelope sealing flaps 34. The flaps 34 are defined by vertical perforations 35 and have on the reverse side of the flaps a glue strip 36 extending the major length of the flaps 34.

The panel 26 of message sheet 22 has sealing flaps 37 which correspond essentially in size and shape and relative locations to the sealing flaps 34 shown on panel 31. The flaps 37 are joined to panel 26 by a vertical perforated tear line 38. The topmost panel 25 of letter sheet 22, when observed in reference to panels 31 and 26, appears to have notched portions 39 which extend the entire length between score line 24 and perforated tear line 21. The notched areas 39 are in effect indented to a depth as great as, or greater than, the marginal area occupied by the glue strip 36 upon sealing flaps 34. Such a construction allows adhesive contact between glue strip 36 of sealing flaps 34 and the reverse side of sealing flaps 37 when the letter sheet is folded together in the manner to be later described. When the letter sheet is folded in the desired manner the only adhesive contact between panels 31, 25, and 26 is between flaps 34, 37.

It is contemplated that panel 31 will have a senders name and address in conventional manner in the upper left-hand corner as shown at 41. A stamp 42 will normally be placed in the upper right-hand corner of panel 31 and upon 30 the sender may place his own address in the conventional manner indicated at 43 and a stamp 44 if it is desired that the return envelope come to the sender. Since the message to the recipient will be printed or typed upon panels 25, 26, this allows all necessary typing to be done upon the letter sheet 20 with but a simple insertion of the sheet into the typewriter.

After the letter is completed and removed fromthe typewriter, and now referring to FIGURES 2 to 6, it is folded along score line 28 to position the reverse sides of panels 30 and 31 adjacent and in registry with one another as seen in FIGURE 2. The sender then may form the return envelope by allowing adhesive strips 33 on panel 30 to go into bonding contact with panel 31. Such a maneuver forms an envelope having a pocket therein bounded by score line 27, adhesive strips 33 and panels 30 and 31. Panel 29 is then folded adjacent panel 30 in the manner shown by the arrow 45 in FIGURE 2. To complete the folding of the letter sheet and to position the recipients address in proper mailing position, panel 25 is folded upwardly and rearwardly to a position adjacent the reverse side of panel 29 in the manner shown by arrow 46 in FIGURE 3, and panel 26 is folded about score line 24 to position the front face of the panel adjacent the front face of panel 25.

To provide for complete sealing of the completely folded letter sheet, the sealing flaps 34 are brought into registry with flaps 37 at which time an adhesive bonding may take place between these two sets of flaps to provide for the integrity of the completed letter sheet, which is shown in FIGURE 4.

Referring now to FIGURES 7 to 11, there is shown a letter sheet and integral envelope in which the recipient may remove the message sheet 22 and return the reply envelope to the sender or other suitable place. To open the composite letter sheet 20 when in its complete folded position, the recipient merely removes the bonded together sealing flaps 34, 37 by tearing along perforation lines 35, 38 as seen in FIGURE 7. Upon removal the sealing flaps, panels 25, 26 and 29 assume an open position and one in which the recipient may remove message panels 25, 26 from the reply envelope 23 by tearing the message sheet 22 along perforation 21. Such a procedure allows the recipient to insert into the pocket of the reply envelope 23 such material as he may desire and then seal the envelope 23 by revolving panel 29 about score line 27 in the direction indicated by arrow 47 of FIG- URE 8, whereby panel 29 is positioned adjacent the front face of panel 31. To seal the reply envelope 23 the adhesive strip 32 is allowed to go into bonding contact with the uppermost portion of panel 31. If, however, the sender did not seal glue strips 33 to panel 31 before the letter was sent then the recipient must perform this step before returning the envelope in order that the envelope be sealed about all peripheral sides. Once panel 29 is positioned in place over panel 31, it covers the original stamp and mailing information printed upon that panel by the sender and leaves panel 30 exposed to view upon which the sender may have inscribed his return address or may have left a blank to allow the recipient to place whatever information upon it that would be desired.

Referring now to FIGURE 12, there is shown a modification 50 of composite letter sheet 20.

Composite letter sheet 50 is divided by a perforated line 51 into a message sheet 52 and an integral reply envelope 53 and further divided by perforated line 54 into aninformation sheet 55.

Message sheet 52 has a score line 56 defining panels 57 and 58. The message sheet 52 is adapted to be folded to form the panels 57, 58 about score line 56 which is generally prescored to ensure proper folding and true registry of the panels in overlying relation when the sheet is folded.

The reply envelope 53 is divided by score lines 59 and 60. At the top of panel 61 on its reverse side is an adhesive strip 64 across the entire width of the panel which is used for sealing the reply envelope 63 in a manner previously described for the embodiment of FIGURE 1. Panel 62 being of the same width as panel 61, has adhesive strips 65 extending vertically the entire length of the panel along its uppermost edges. Bottom panel 63 of the reply envelope 53 is the full width of the letter sheet 50 and further has projecting portions which form the reply envelope sealing flaps 66. The flaps 66 are defined by vertical perforations 67 and have on the reverse side of the flaps a glue strip 68 extending the major length of the flaps 66.

The panel 58 of message sheet 52 has sealing flaps 69 which correspond essentially in size and shape and relative locations to the sealing flaps 66 as shown in panel 63. The flaps 69 are joined to panel 58 by vertical perforated tear line 71. The topmost panel 57 of letter sheet 52, when observed in reverse to panels 63 and 58 appears to have notched portions 72 which extend the entire length between score line 56 and perforated tear line 51. The notched areas 72 are indented to a depth as great as, or greater than, the marginal area occupied by the glue strip upon sealing flap 66. Such a construction leaves adhesive contact between glue strips 68 of sealing flaps 66 on the reverse side of sealing flaps 69 when the letter sheet is fold-ed together in a manner similar to the embodiment of FIGURE 1. When the letter sheet is folded in the desired manner the only adhesive contactbetween 53, 57 and 58 is between sealing flaps 66 and 69.

Information return sheet55 comprises panel 73 having indented vertical sides 74 which are indented from the normal width of the composite letter sheet 50' by a suitable distance as indicated by 75. It should be understood that information return sheet 55 may comprise one panel as shown herein or may be made up of multiple panels as desired. 7

In preparation for sen-ding the letter sheet 50, the sender would fold it in the manner shown for the first embodiment in FIGURES 2, 3 with the exception that the added information return panel 73 would be folded adjacent panel 61. Once the recipient has opened letter sheet 50 in the manner of FIGURE 7, it is contemplated that panel 73 would be detached from return envelope 53 and normally used for an information return by inserting it into the integral envelope such as is shown in FIG- URE 8 before the closing flap 29 is folded and sealed. Such construction provided an extremely convenient method of sending, receiving and returning information by mail.

The last embodiment of the present invention, shown in FIGURES 13 and 14, is a modification of the letter sheet of FIGURE 12, however, it should be noted that any of the various embodiments may be made in the manner herein described.

In this embodiment the letter sheet 50 is a continuous form having a plurality of sheets 50 interconnected by tear lines 81. This form is adapted to be used with a machine that utilizes the continuous sheet forms and is, therefore, provided with a perforated sprocket carrying drive tab 82, having perforations 83, on each side of the sheet, which tabs are adapted to be torn off after the printing or other utilization of the letter sheet takes place.

Once the letter sheet 50 with its integral envelope is separated from its adjacent letter sheet 50, the sprocket dr-ive tabs 82 may be removed by tearing along tear lines 84 leaving only the basic letter sheet 50 and its associated message sheet 52, reply envelope 53 and information sheet 55. Obviously, it will at once be seen that the marginal edges 66 and 69 will also remain upon the message sheet 52 after the drive tabs 82 have been removed.

The above embodiments have shown a convenient letter sheet which required only one insertion in the typewriter to imprint ones mailing information on the message thereon and one which discloses a letter sheet having an integral envelope for the recipient to use in the return mail.

Various modifications may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and it is desired, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as are imposed by the prior art and are set forth in the appended claims.

the top panel having adhesive extending across the top transverse marginal edge thereof, the middle panel having adhesive along the side marginal edges which will overlie certain marginal areas of the bottom panel when the first sheet is folded, the bottom panel having projecting marginal sealing flaps, the bottom panel marginal sealing flaps having adhesive along the length thereof, the second sheet being transversely scored to define top and bottom panels that are adapted to be fan-folded about both the score line and the sheet-joining line of perforations to position the second sheet bottom panel overlying one side of the second sheet top panel and the other side of the second sheet top panel overlying the other side of the first sheet top panel, the bottom panel of the second sheet having projecting marginal sealing flaps, the marginal sides of the top panel of the second sheet being notched to permit surface contact between the marginal sealing flaps of the first and second sheets through the notches, whereby when the first and second sheets are folded the adhesive portions of the middle panel of the first sheet may be adhered to the bottom panel of the first sheet at desired times to form a pocket of an envelope and the marginal sealing flaps of the first and second sheets may be adhered through the notches in the top panel of the second sheet to secure the letter sheet and integral envelope in superposed relation.

2. A combination letter sheet and integral envelope as claimed in claim 1 wherein, there are lines of perforations extending vertically of the first sheet inwardly of the adhesive areas on the first sheet marginal sealing flaps.

3. A combination letter sheet and integral envelope as claimed in claim 2 wherein, there are lines of perforations extending vertically of the second sheet connecting the second sheet marginal sealing flaps to the bottom panel of the second sheet whereby the adhesively joined sealing fiaps of the first and second sheets may be removed after the sheets have been folded and sealed.

4. A combination letter sheet and integral envelope comprising a first sheet and a second sheet joined by a line of perforations, a third sheet joined to the first sheet by a line of perforations, the first sheet being transversely scored to define top, middle and bottom panels adapted to be fan-folded about the score lines to position one side of the top panel overlying one side of the middle panel and the bottom panel overlying the other side of the middle panel, the top panel having adhesive extending across the top transverse edge thereof adjacent the third sheet, the middle panel having adhesive strips along the side marginal edges which will overlie certain marginal areas of the bottom panel when the first sheet is folded, the bottom panel having projecting marginal sealing flaps, the bottom panel marginal sealing flaps having adhesive along the length thereof, the third sheet adapted to be folded about the line of perforations connecting the third sheet to the first sheet to position the third sheet overlying the top panel of the first sheet, the third sheet having a width less than the distance between the marginal edge adhesive strips of the first sheet middle panel, the second sheet being transversely scored to define top and bottom panels that are adapted to be fan-folded about both the score line and the first and second sheet-joining line of perforations to position the second sheet bottom panel overlying one side of the second sheet top panel and the other side of the second sheet top panel overlying the third sheet, the bottom panel of the second sheet having projecting marginal sealing flaps, the marginal sides of the top panel of the second sheet being notched to permit surface contact between the marginal sealing flaps of the first and second sheets through the notches, whereby when the first, second and third sheets are folded the adhesive portions of the middle panel of the first sheet at desired times may be adhered to the bottom panel of the first sheet to form a pocket of an envelope and the marginal sealing fiaps of the first and second sheets may be adhered through the notches in the top panel of the second sheet to secure the first, second and third sheets in superposed relation.

5. A combination letter sheet and integral envelope as claimed in claim 4 wherein, there are lines of perforations extending vertically of the first sheet inwardly of the adhesive areas on the first sheet marginal sealing flaps.

6. A combination letter sheet and integral envelope as claimed in claim 5 wherein, there are lines of perforations extending vertically of the second sheet connecting the second sheet marginal sealing flaps to the bottom panel of the second sheet whereby the adhesively joined sealing flaps of the first and second sheets may be removed after the sheets have been folded and sealed.

7. A combination letter sheet and integral envelope being join-ed in a continuous series of letter sheets comprising a first sheet and a second sheet joined by a line of perforations, a third sheet joined to the first sheet by a line of perforations, the first sheet being transversely scored to define top, middle and bottom panels adapted to be fan-folded about the score lines to position one side of the top panel overlying one side of the middle panel and the bottom panel overlying the other side of the middle panel, the top panel having adhesive extending across the top transverse edge thereof adjacent the third sheet, the middle panel having adhesive strips along the side marginal edges which will overlie certain marginal areas of the bottom panel when the first sheet is folded, the bottom panel having projecting marginal sealing flaps, the bottom panel marginal sealing flaps having adhesive along the length thereof, the third sheet adapted to be folded about the line of perforations connecting the third sheet to the first sheet to position the third sheet overlying the top panel of the first sheet, the third sheet having a width less than the distance between the marginal edge adhesive strips of the first sheet middle panel, the second sheet being transversely scored to define top and bottom panels that are adapted to be fan-folded about both the score line and the first and second sheet-joining line of perforations to position the second sheet bottom panel overlying one side of the second sheet top panel and the other side of the second sheet top panel overlying the third sheet, the bottom panel of the second sheet having projecting marginal sealing flaps, the marginal sides of the top panel of the second sheet being notched to permit surface contact between the marginal sealing flaps of the first and second sheets through the notches, a sprocket drive tab along the side edges of the joined letter sheets and being det-achably joined adjacent the side edges, the sprocket drive tab having a plurality of sprocket openings along the length thereof, whereby when the first, second and third sheets are folded the adhesive portions of the middle panel of the first sheet may be adhered to the bottom panel of the first sheet at desired times to form a pocket of an envelop-e and the marginal sealing flaps of the first and second sheets may be adhered through the notches in the top panel of the second sheet to secure the first, second and third sheets in superimposed relation.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,773,638 12/1956 Krohn 229-92 2,920,811 1/1960 Harman 22969 3,184,150 5/1965 Hubbard 22973 FOREIGN PATENTS 11,831 of 1901 Great Britain.

JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

D. M. BOCKENEK, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A COMBINATION LETTER SHEET AND INTEGRAL ENVELOPE COMPRISING A FIRST SHEET AND A SECOND SHEET JOINED BY A LINE OF PERFORATIONS, THE FIRST SHEET BEING TRANSVERSELY SCORED TO DEFINE TOP, MIDDLE AND BOTTOM PANELS ADAPTED TO BE FAN-FOLDED ABOUT THE SCORE LINES TO POSITION ONE SIDE OF THE TOP PANEL OVERLYING ONE SIDE OF THE MIDDLE PANEL AND THE BOTTOM PANEL OVERLYING THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MIDDLE PANEL, THE TOP PANEL HAVING ADHESIVE EXTENDING ACROSS THE TOP TRANSVERSE MARGINAL EDGE THEREOF, THE MIDDLE PANEL HAVING ADHESIVE ALONG THE SIDE MARGINAL EDGES WHICH WILL OVERLIE CERTAIN MARGINAL AREAS OF THE BOTTOM PANEL WHEN THE FIRST SHEET IS FOLDED, THE BOTTOM PANEL HACING PROJECTING MARGINAL SEALING FLAPS, THE BOTTOM PANEL MARGINAL SEALING FLAPS HAVING ADHESIVE ALONG THE LENGTH THEREOF, THE SECOND SHEET BEING TRANSVERSELY SCORED TO DEFINE TOP AND BOTTOM PANELS THAT ARE ADAPTED TO BE FAN-FOLDED ABOUT BOTH THE SCORE LINE AND THE SHEET-JOINING LINE OF PERFORATIONS TO POSITION THE SECOND SHEET BOTTOM PANEL OVERLYING ONE SIDE OF THE SECOND SHEET TOP PANEL AND THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SECOND SHEET TOP PANEL OVERLYING THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FIRST SHEET TOP PANEL, THE BOTTOM PANEL OF THE SECOND SHEET HAVING PROJECTING MARGINAL SEALING FLAPS, THE MARGINAL SIDES OF THE TOP PANEL OF THE SECOND SHEET BEING NOTCHED TO PERMIT SURFACE CONTACT BETWEEN THE MARGINAL SEALING FLAPS OF THE FIRST AND SECOND SHEETS THROUGH THE NOTCHES, WHEREBY WHEN THE FIRST AND SECOND SHEETS ARE FOLDED THE ADHESIVE PORTIONS OF THE MIDDLE PANEL OF THE FIRST SHEET MAY BE ADHERED TO THE BOTTOM PANEL OF THE FIRST SHEET AT DESIRED TIMES TO FORM A POCKET OF AN ENVELOPE AND THE MARGINAL SEALING FLAPS OF THE FIRST AND SECOND SHEETS MAY BE ADHERED THROUGH THE NOTCHES IN THE TOP PANEL OF THE SECOND SHEET TO SECURE THE LETTER SHEET AND INTEGRAL ENVELOPE IN SUPERPOSED RELATION. 